A Colts defender delivered some payback in the all-star game. We could just trudge onward to the next player right now. Andre Reed is an all-time great wide receiver who seemingly cannot escape lists of the most underrated football players in history. Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Super Bowl championships: Two (1979, 1990). Young checks in at No. In an ideal world, every NFL playoff game is won or lost strictly by the players. In the nine seasons that Aaron Smith had double-digit starts, their D ranked among the top nine in yards allowed every time, but his consistent play went over the heads of many. One of those receivers is Flowers, who totaled over 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games this season for Boston College. He had one sack in four games, all Rams victories. He then became a staple of trivia questions and All-Time Worst Trades listicles, as the Lawrence Welk trade overshadowed an even more impressive moment in Hadl's transaction history. WebIts weird to say that a player as celebrated as Jonathan Taylor could be one of the most underrated college football players of all time. Then it was off to Carolina, where he earned an All-Pro selection for leading the Panthers to the NFC Championship Game as a second-year expansion team during his age-37 season. Appreciate him for being that. He led the Bengals to a pair of playoff appearances in 1973 and 1975, Joe Montana's high school senior and Notre Dame sophomore seasons. Player A passed for 27,928 yards and 194 touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns with mostly very good teams and one great one. Those who have knowledge of National Football League history are well aware of the more famous individuals who made their names and fame playing pro football. After missing most of two years with injury, he returned in 1972 and led the NFL in TDs, yards, yards per attempt, and was an all-pro. If he started his career a decade earlier or a decade later, Young would have anchored the defense for one of history's great teams or helped push the Harbaugh 49ers over the top in the Super Bowl. Frank Ryan, QB, Browns. Checking in at 5-foot-9 (on a good day) and 232 pounds, Sam Mills was one of the best pound-for-pound linebackers of his day, and it remains a surprise that voters have not yet deemed him worthy of being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. WebThe 2023 wide receiver class is one of the worst in recent memory, but there are some solid options on Day 2 for teams searching for complementary players. Those accomplishments may soon finally land Kenn in the Hall of Fame. June 19, 2020 Koby83 Football, Michael Turner, NFL, Running Backs, Sports Underrated. Hull never lived to see himself make a Hall of Fame semifinalist list, as he died of liver failure at age 50 in 2011. He has already waited too long for that deserved honor. WebJermaine O'Neal, Chauncey Billups and Peja Stojakovic are among the most underrated players of the 2000s. Provided by Fadeaway World View the original article to see It takes bad timing and bad luck. "It was tough, but I was happy for those guys," Dunn told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. No, what youll see are lots of gaping holes the size of Boulder. But the diminutive Brees would not have been able to lead the Saints to a Super Bowl and several seasons as top contenders without a clean pocket, particularly right in front of him. He is, however, most remembered, for being a wide receiver who was decades ahead of his time. But the run-'n'-shoot took away more than it provided, and the early 1990s Lions kept getting obliterated by better defenses in the playoffs. Here on the All-Time Underrated List, it counts for a lot. And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. He led his team to an NFL championship. Is it at all possible that any of these legends of the game could possibly also be some of the most underrated players in NFL history? Hmmm. Brown did one thing terribly wrong in 18 NFL seasons, but for his teams to win as often as they did, he must have done an awful lot more right. Butler's defensive accomplishments might have brought him to the cusp of immortality, but don't underestimate the power of that Lambeau Leap. One of the greatest defenders in the history of a storied franchise, Young is just another victim of bad timing when it comes to getting the reputation he deserves. WebWe're a media page that has been highlighting an underrated player from every team in the NFL. Stafford is an underrated quarterback who has also been a pillar of stability outside of his second season and this past year. He is Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Brandon Williams. WebDue to the emergence of other superstars like Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, LeBron James, and Tracy McGrady, many other solid players who had massive success in the decade have On this All-Underrated list, he is in very good company. Perhaps Fitzgerald would get more love from the public if he mouthed off as do many diva wide receivers in the NFL. It takes years of playing the wrong position for the wrong team in the wrong league at the wrong time. These men did so much but received so little credit in return. ), Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Super Bowl championships: Two (1974, 1975). Addiction soon began consuming Smith's career, and then his life. He played 256 career regular-season games, never missing a start due to injury. WebDeAngelo Hall was quietly one of the best defensive backs of the 2000s. But run defense was king in the era when McDole played, and his 16-year career is littered with big plays: 12 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries, two touchdowns, three safeties and a pair of sacks in the 1966 AFL Championship Game. Anderson does not get the credit he deserves for reasons that cannot be explained. Other than Steve Largent and Kurt Warner, Pro Bowlers were harder to find in the Seahawks offense than a haystack in the Space Needle. WebTop 10 most underrated NFL players: Justin Tucker, Keenan Allen deserve more recognition. He was overshadowed by more famous teammates throughout his career. He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. Hull started his professional career with the USFL's New Jersey Generals, where he helped Herschel Walker rush for 2,411 yards in one 18-game season. Let's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. It doesn't matter: If you are a Broncos defender, you might as well forget about a bust in Canton. He had to blanket a wide receiver in man coverage with no safety help on every play. In their two Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was a virtual nonfactor in the matchup. Even pesky third-down backs and gritty fullbacks may seem underrated until you realize how many of them become local heroes. And then there is Kent Hull, the first center to achieve greatness in a no-huddle offense. Harrison's numbers should speak for themselves, and those who would say otherwise are either trying to make a point or are simply ignoring how great Harrison was during his career. Mason had seven seasons of at least 70 pass receptions, 1,000 yards and five touchdowns. He was a Pro Bowl regular, two-time All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1971. Smith produced nine 1,000-yard seasons in 10 years, including two 100-plus-catch seasons in an era when they were still relatively uncommon. Allen made a lot of plays. WebWhile we could have included a few more, here is our list of the 10 most underrated players in NFL history. And no Hall of Famers allowed. Terry Porter is another name that isnt remembered despite his Rivers' excellence, longevity and ability to barely dodge immortality make him the John Hadl of his era. In Jahri Evans' four All-Pro seasons (2009-12), the Saints ranked first, sixth, first and second in the NFL in total yards. "I wasnt the fastest guy, but I didnt mind having the defender at my hip," Ellard said per Yahoo Sports. Eric Allen's job in Buddy Ryan's 46 defense was simple. I still don't know that people gave me my due respect for my production. The Steelers rushed for a then-record 249 yards and did not allow a sack. Bottom line: Warrick Dunn overcame the murder of his mother, bouts with depression and 5-foot-9 size to have a successful 12-year NFL career. So whaddya say, fans? His 23 fourth-quarter comebacks (20th overall) are more than Dan Fouts, Jim Kelly, Sonny Jurgensen and Bart Starr, to name a few Hall of Famers at the position. You mean future Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace didnt block four guys all by himself? In his most prolific early season, he caught 54 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns. He blitzed (20.5 sacks). If not for Schlereth's many health problems that included 29 surgeries, 15 on his left knee alone, he would have been a perennial Pro Bowl selection. Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. The admission probably slams the door of the Hall of Fame on Brown forever. No current player is even close to notching 81 career picks, and that record may never be broken. WebTaylors 2000s career included him playing with Jacksonville (2000-2008) and New England (2009), and he had some great all-around years as an NFL running back. Bottom line: Wilber Marshall was the most athletic and versatile linebacker with the legendary 1985 Bears defense he often replaced the celebrated Mike Singletary in pass situations. Bottom line: Derrick Mason was among the shrewdest, most precise route runners of his time. As for being so underrated he's overrated, wellthat's extremely underrated, which justifies Anderson's ranking here. Jackson then moved on to Atlanta just after the collapse of the Mike Smith playoff teams but before the rise of the current Dan Quinn contenders. The easiest way to be overlooked by history is to replace a legend just after a franchise has peaked. He picked off a dozen passes in his career two of them at 38 years of age an absurd number for a 6-foot-4, 265-pound lineman. That feeling never really went away.". Guards don't make the Hall of Fame unless they win multiple Super Bowls or play forever. But he didn't play for the legendary 49ers teams. But outside of Wisconsin, his accomplishments were mostly forgotten shortly after his career ended in 2001. WebMen such as Joe Montana, Lawrence Taylor, Those who have knowledge of National Football League history are well aware of the more famous individuals who made their The Hall of Fame eluded Ellard for several reasons: comparisons to Rice, the Rams' move to St. Louis (it takes hometown writers and buzz to mount a campaign) and those five early seasons in a ground-and-pound offense. "Underrated" is in the eye of the beholder, so let's establish some ground rules for these rankings: After that, players are ranked based how underappreciated they are, not how great they are. The least glamorous position on the field, a so-so team, a franchise moveWisniewski pulled three lemons on the recognition slot machine. Efficient? The Packers were a team with more history than identity when Butler arrived. Wouldnt you know it? Without Kenn, there might not be free agency in the NFL, to say nothing of limitations on practice conditions and other initiatives that make pro football less dangerous than it was decades ago. Deebo Samuel broke the game open for San Francisco with his 74-yard Only kicker in NFL history to hit at least one FG Steve Wisniewski played guard on a Raiders team that moved in the middle of his career and was just good enough to remind you it was not in the same class as the great Raiders teams that preceded it. Mills was a USFL All-Star in all three seasons of the league's existence, and he led the Philadelphia and Baltimore Stars' Doghouse Defense (coached by Jim Mora) to a pair of league titles. The Rams acquired him from the Chargers in 1973 in exchange for defensive end Coy Bacon. He won the Rookie of the Year and the Comeback Player of the Year awards as a professional, and Anderson was named the Most Valuable Player for Super Bowl XXV. Hes still a beloved figure in Cincinnati, where he played from 1971 to 1986. Smith wasnt a no-show on third-and-long, either. But no highlight clip of that play can be found on the internet. Take a quick look at the long list of quarterbacks who have played for teams that host home contests indoors, and you will see how many of them failed to have careers anything close to that enjoyed by Brees over the years. He returned eight interceptions for touchdowns, including four in 1993 and three during his age-35 season with the Raiders in 2000. Young was also a much better rusher who could find the end zone via his arm or by using his legs. Evans, the best pass-protecting guard of his era, was charged with making sure pass-rushers didn't get close enough to Brees to bat his passes down, let alone sack him. Butler was the NFL's most dangerous all-purpose safety for much of the 1990s. The most similar current player to Anderson is Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell, but Bell plays in a modern offense that amplifies his production instead of suppressing it. Some of the hottest takes one will see as it pertains to Drew Brees involve criticisms of his numbers because of the fact that he has played the majority of his home games inside of a dome. 2 due to the fact that more than a few knowledgeable football people have publicly stated that they see Joe Montana as being the greatest quarterback in history. Not every NFL star gets the love they deserve. Johnny Robinson's credentials make you want to drive to Canton, kick down the Hall of Fame's door and clear a spot for his bust yourself. Maybe not, seeing as Nalen has not had much success. Outside of the incredible stats that Monk posted during his Hall-of-Fame career, is has to be noted Monk also never had the pleasure of playing with quarterbacks such as Joe Montana, Dan Marino or John Elway. Steve Atwater. Bottom line: After eight seasons in Buffalo, where he had been a mainstay with the best defense in AFL history, Ron McDole took his two-bar helmet to Washington. Jackson probably helped you win a fantasy title or two, but he would be remembered for so much more if he wasn't always on the wrong team at the wrong time. Brown earned seven Pro Bowl berths and an All-Pro selection. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, acquired the 34-year-old Rams quarterback by, Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images, Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. There may be such a thing as too much blitzing, after all. Only missed 14 games in 10 seasons and 2 of them were meaningless rest games before the playoffs/ Last game of the season. Maybe there is still an NFL team in San Diego. Quick: Name the 49ers' all-time sack leader. Player B passed for 31,548 yards and 214 touchdowns and ran for 22 touchdowns with below average-to-good teams. Allen has much in common with many others on this underrated list. Hes also among a select few to be a four-time Super Bowl champion. Arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles, Cunningham rightfully so makes it into this list. Maybe Wright wasn't a Blount-level legend, but he deserves better than to be the forgotten man among the Broncos' forgotten men. They're the working stiffs who bust their butts at so-called lesser positions, on teams that are seldom seen on highlights shows, let alone national television. There would not be another exchange of current Pro Bowlers in the NFL until the Broncos and Redskins exchanged Champ Bailey and Clinton Portis in 2004. It was the era of great defensive lines with catchy namesthe Rams had the Fearsome Foursome, the Cowboys the Doomsday Defense, the Steelers later added the Steel Curtain, and so forthand Marshall was the Ringo Starr of the Purple People Eaters, the guy who once ran the wrong way for a touchdown and was happy just to be in the band. It's Bryant Young, whorecorded 89.5 sacks for the 49ers, 23 more than Haley. He also doesn't play in the shadow of a legend. He routinely beat defenders with quickness out of his breaks and clever change-of-pace moves, qualities that also served him well as a punt returner. Perhaps it has something to do with the era during which Tomlinson played, but that L.T. "Hate to say it, but I do believe I should be there (in Canton)," Marshall once said. Do people not recognize Rob Gronkowski as a great tight end just because he has had Tom Brady as his quarterback? Guy deserved to be inducted, no question about it, but the day passed long ago for Sean Landeta to receive his invite to Canton. Former head coach Jim Mora has referred to Mills as the best player I ever coached. Along with being a talented defensive player, Mills was also respected for being one of the smartest defenders on the field during his career. One has to wonder if those QBs will ever receive the respect they truly deserve. The rumors themselves were not surprising. Kenny Anderson may be the most "so underrated that he's overrated" player in NFL historya darling of the stat-head community and common first-guy-mentioned when Hall of Fame snubs come up. Not one of the Jim Harbaugh-era guys. That's not something to hold against a player. From a couple of fairly well-known quarterbacks to the linemen who make a quarterback's job easier, we argue these 32 players deserve more recognition. But no one remembers the Greatest Show on Turf for its defense, and Fletcher spent the prime of his career playing for mediocre Bills teams. Once an arbitrary number of players from a historic team get enshrined, the committee moves on in search of underappreciated players from other franchises. If McCree doesn't cough up that fourth-quarter pick, the Chargers beat the Patriots, and perhaps Philip Rivers leads a team that went 14-2 in the regular season to the Super Bowl. An all-underrated team like this one can get flooded with Zach Thomas, Hardy Nickerson, Tommy Nobis and Tedy Bruschi types if we don't get a little choosy. Rivers had neither, but he possessed just about everything else. No matter what the two-time All-Pro accomplished, he could never be Jerry Rice, who cast a long, tall shadow in the same conference. Hence, the Campbell video. 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